THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 20 December 1911, Page 3

T HE HALF-HOLIDAY.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FAVOURS SATURDAY. THE UNIFORMITY CAMPAIGN. The half-holiday question, which lias hcen prominently before the public for some time, was the main business before the Chamber of Commerce meeting last night. The secretary, Mr Richards, said that he and the president of the Chamber had made a canvass of the shopkeepers and business people of the town, not’ including offices, as to the best day on which to observe a universal half-holiday, and the result was that there, was a majority in favour of Saturday. He had written to all the mayors in the district, but not thinking this sufficient, to give the matter full publicity he had also written to various district newspapers. As a result of the correspondence with local bodies all were found in favour of Saturday, except Inglewood, which favoured Thursday, and Eltham and Hawera, which had not replied. He would advise that the two latter towns be written to and be told how many towns favoured Saturday. Mr Young said Saturday was the only day on which a universal halfholiday could be held. The stock sales—•’which were a most important consideration —were chiefly held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He moved in accordance with the secretary’s suggestion. Mr Hewitt seconded. Mr Kirkwood thought the motion should bo passed,, after which the Chamber should express an opinion as to the day to be chosen. After some cjiscussion, Mr Kirkwood was allowed to move that the Chamber favoured Thursday as the day for the universal half-holiday, the motion being permitted to take precedence. There were, he said, two parties in the matter —the business people and the general public—and one was deserving of as much consideration as the other. It would be easier to get Thursday than to got Saturday. The only places which had not yet declared were Eltham and Hawera, and they would more readily adopt Thursday. The half-holiday question was entirely different in country towns to what it was in cities, where it no doubt suited certain people to close on Saturday. The present day (Thursday) was very suitable. It made a break in the week, which would not happen if the holiday was on Saturday. If the holiday was on Saturday he believed country people would leave all their shopping until Saturday morning, which would give shopkeepers a great deal of work and only half a day to do it in. Mr Young seconded pro forma. Saturday was the only day on which there could be a universal half-holiday. In the case of Stratford, it would merely mean that people would do their marketing on Friday or some other (lay, and the marts and shops > would use Saturday mornings for straightening up. Mr Richards moved that, in the motion, Saturday be deleted and Thursday inserted. Mr McMillan seconded. Mr Hewitt expressed the opinion that if {Saturday was adopted the country peoplCj would, do their marketing on Tuesday* the sale, (lay. : Mr Richards quoted the names of those business people who had declared for or against Saturday. He did so, he said, to show that business people had been properly approached. The Thursday half-holiday operated badly when town people were doing country Jems,, time being wasted in the men returning to town for half-holiday. When people, were only working eight hours on live and a half days a week, ho could not see how any person with an ordinary constitution mould be in need of a jbreak. in the middle of the week. To be considered also was the matter of sports—' especially football. If men played on Thursday, were not in good form and got knocked about, they would not bo worth much on Friday morning. The advantages of Saturday, from the employee’s point of view were apparent—certainly it enabled them to take good advantage of the week-end. Another important matter was that of changing cheques. It was sometimes hard to cash a big cheque when the banks were closed, and the way was left too open for the passing of valueless cheques. In New Plymouth there were 57 firms in favour of Saturday, and 33 in favour of Thursday, and in addition there were thirty firms which ignored the sot half-holiday, and closed on Saturday. Mr Young supported the amendment. He thought the Chamber should specially thank the secretary for the trouble, ho had gone to in writing to the district newspapers on the question. Mr McMillan said his own feeling was in favour of Saturday, but if the majority of the retailers of the town had favoured Thursday, he would have fallen in with their view. Mr Kirkwood said there were arguments in favour of Saturday, but he thought the arguments on the other side would far outweigh them. The fact that the Retailers’ Association were against it was a telling argument. There would be more hope of getting Saturday if it was desired to make it a whole holiday: Mr Hewitt said with the half-holi-day on Saturday, some other day—probably Tuesday or Friday—would become the market day. Mr Kirkwood: This is. a matter on which there should bn a referendum of the whole of the people of the district. Mr Richards; If a referendum was taken the whole of the people of Stratford would be found to be in favour of Saturday. Mr Richards’ amendment was carried, Mr Kirkwood (the chairman) being the only one to record dissent. Mr Young’s motion—that Hawera and Eltham ho written to; be informed of the number of towns favouring Saturday, and be invited to fall in with the proposal, reasons in favour ■:f Saturday to be stated—was then carried. On tbe motion of Mr Hewitt, it was decided that Messrs Young and Richards endeavour to meet the members of the executive of the Retailers’ Association, and place their arguments in favour of Saturday before them.